Epic Cruise to the Caribbean

Alan and I went on a cruise with our good friends last week and had the best time! It was really tough leaving AJ for the first time and I may or may not have had a few break downs. Two or three the week we were getting ready to leave, one major one on the plane taking off and then one night at dinner on the cruise. I missed him like crazy but felt guilty for not feeling guilty for leaving him. Weird, I know! The melt down on the plane was really embarrassing because Alan was sitting a row in front of me and across the isle. He looked back and noticed I was crying and asked if I was OK, causing 2 rows of passengers to look back at me. Yeah, pretty embarrassing. That was the hardest part. Once we got to Miami, I was OK.

We met up for dinner the night before in Miami with our good friend, Wendy. Not sure why I'm sitting in the middle. Looks like Wendy and Alan are together. Oops!

The next day we got on our ship. Here is how amazing it was (biggest Norwegian ship and only a few months old.)

View from the deck. The slides were a blast!

Our soda mugs we refilled endless times

Our first of many, many meals

The view from our balcony in our cabin

Our 'king' bed that Alan was too tall for

The rest of our cabin

Leaving Miami. This is the best part of a cruise. Everyone is so excited to be going on a cruise and the excitement is everywhere. I love it!

At the Blue Man Group Show. We left half way through. It was pretty bad. Actually, we weren't impressed with any of the shows. That was only complaint of this cruise.

Out on the back deck watching a show

This was the view I had from our balcony when we got to our first stop in St. Maarten. This is someone's private Yacht! Biggest private yacht in the world. A Russian who owns a soccer team and is in the oil industry owns this. Price tag? Only 300 million dollars! This yacht was unreal! So much prettier and bigger in person. This man has 90 employees working on here. He had taken his private helicopter to watch a soccer game. How would it be?

Taking a little dip in the ocean in St. Maarten

My friend Angie and I worshipped the sun. Our routine went a little something like this: Up at 6:30am Utah time (Really? You would think I would have taken advantage of sleeping but my baby has turned me into a not very good sleeper) Worked out for an hour, went to breakfast and then by 10:30 we were out soaking up the sun till about 3 ish. Then we got an afternoon snack, which was a few hours after lunch. Heaven forbid we starve on this cruise. Then we would take a nap (or at least attempt), read and get ready for dinner. Then off to dinner, a show and then tell me I'm not old; I went back to the room at 10:30ish Utah time and read until I fell asleep. I read 2 books on this cruise. All you mama's out there know how hard it is to read at home so I had to take advantage.

St. Thomas wasn't our favorite stop. We were too late booking an excursion so we took a taxi into town, walked around for 30 minutes and then got back on the ship.

The Bahama's. Best. Day. Ever!

We went to The Atlantis and played at the water park. Only bummer was that we only had 5 hours there. Not a lot of time to get in all the rides. We've decided our next vacation will need to be to here for a week. I'm thinking it'll be better to go back when AJ is old enough to enjoy it. Best place for kids!

OK, who do you think makes the cutest couple?

Ron and Brynnly?

Alan and Angie?

Ron and Alan?

Or Brynnly and Angie?

Not sure why we all thought this was so funny but we had a good laugh over it.

Meet Pam. Alan and Ron met her and bonded with her.

Our last supper

Last night on the cruise

I was SO ready to get home when we got off the ship. I missed my little guy SO bad! Here is what I missed while I was gone:

My niece decided to make her grand appearance into this world 8 days late! She was born 1 hour before my flight left Salt Lake. I was so bummed! She makes AJ look like a giant. Meet Sadie Mae. She as born weighing 6 lbs 10 oz. Remember, she was 8 days late! TINY!

AJ is so gentle with her. He always 'pet's' her so softly and lovingly, he's always kissing her and he gets so excited around her. It's almost like he remembers her ;).

AJ got to go to a Jazz game and sit in a suite. Here is where he met President Monson. President Monson kept playing with him and at one point let's just say AJ was a bit gassy when he was holding him. Can't wait to tell him that story when he's older. I'm so sad I missed this!

His Aunt Rebecca that he loves so much!

Every time he kept laughing, he'd tilt over his bubo like this. Guess it happened a lot while I was gone. That and every time my sister went to get him out of his crib, he would hold her face and kiss her. Really? He's never done that to me.

My sister took him on a ton of outings. They bonded. So much so that she cried when we got home and wants to see him every day since. He loves her just as much!

I came home about 10 shades darker, 10lbs heavier (ok maybe not that much but it sure feels like it) and super relaxed! I was greeted by a very happy, excited baby. He was actually more excited to see Alan than he was to see me. We pulled in the drive way, my sister had brought him out, and he just grinned ear to ear, giggling with his eyes glued to his daddy. It was really cute. He broke another tooth, has a cold and got his 6 months shots today. Poor guy just wants to be held, cuddle and cry. It's been a rough day for him. I'm just glad I got back in time so he can have his mama to cuddle with. I'm sure he wants me over his aunt. Or so I have to tell myself that. In all reality, he loves her so much that he wouldn't care. ;) But it does feel good to be home and get back into being a mama again. Now to plan our next cruise...